Hello and thanks to anyone who responds in advance,
I've got a 1998 ES300 and love the car. It's got about 103K miles on it and runs really well. I have regular oil changes and services done, including 90K timing belt, etc., etc. major service. This continues to be the best car I've ever owned. Recently I have developed a small oil leak.
I took the car to a local Midas shop that set me up with a lifetime oil change contract and had them identify the source of the leak (used the UV oil dye) as coming from the valve cover gaskets area. They are quoting what seems to be an extremely high price for changing them, plus they feel the intake manifold gaskets need to be replaced too (why I don't understand).
Here's the quote
1) Valve cover gasket set $112
2) Intake manifold set $159
3) Labor 3.8 hrs $354
I know that getting to the back valve cover is a real !Removed! but come on I can't believe the parts cost they're quoting. The Service Mgr was giving me some story about the fact that the gasket were teflon and that's why they are so expensive (uh, what??). I did some price checking at a few local parts stores for at least the parts and here is what I discovered.
Quote 1
1) $47
2) $69
Quote 2
1) $35
2) $78
Quote 3
Lexus Dealer
$1000 parts and labor
It seems like Midas and the Lexus dealer are really trying to take advantage of me on this job. :o Am I correct in my thinking or have others of you had similar costs for the same type of service?
I'm 50 years old and used to work on all of my own cars/trucks back in the day so this smells really bad to me, but I haven't had to do virtually anything to the Lexus but service it for four years. So maybe it's reasonable in some alternative universe.
Best regards and thanks for tkaing the time to reply,